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A home remedy that has both bad and good effects, applying toothpaste on pimples isn't recommended by dermatologists. Why does it work sometimes, but not always?

The straightforward answer to the question "Does toothpaste work
on pimples?" is both Yes and No. Find out why toothpaste on pimples
became a folk remedy and what you can do to fight acne without any
unpleasant side effects.

An old skincare trick that's still being passed around as sage
advice, the application of toothpaste on pimples doesn't have any
guaranteed effect. It can however cause even more skin problems,
especially if you have sensitive skin.

Why Does Toothpaste Work on Pimples?

When you're willing to try anything to get rid of acne, toothpaste
can be an interesting experiment and it's still being recommended
as the simplest home remedy.

The reason for this is that a lot of brands of toothpaste contain
some ingredients that can be used in the treatment of acne, but
also substances that don't belong on your face.

Toothpaste on Pimples: Does It Work?

When it works, the application of toothpaste on pimples can be
explained by some ingredients that can dry out the skin: baking
soda, alcohol, menthol, triclosan and even hydrogen peroxide,
present in some brands of toothpaste that promise a whitening
effect for your teeth.

Overall, there aren't any ingredients in toothpaste that make it a
better remedy than other products created for your skin. However,
there are plenty of chemical compounds found in toothpaste that can
irritate your skin.

The pimples can go away with the redness and peeling of the skin,
but that certainly doesn't recommend toothpaste as a good acne
remedy. If you're using toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide, you can
even experience further discoloration sometimes present on acne
prone skin.

Acne Remedies that Work Better than Toothpaste

Out of all the ingredients in toothpaste that seem to have a good
effect on acne, baking soda is the only one that should be used on
its own. As a facial scrub, baking soda
can even speed up the clearing of breakouts that may even be caused
by using toothpaste on pimples.

Any over the counter product for acne can have a better effect than
toothpaste, especially if it contains salicylic acid, benzoyl
peroxide or both. These can both help clear acne and prevent
it.

Keep in mind that regular cleansing and exfoliation help your pores
stay unclogged and wash away the bacteria. Taking care of your skin
regularly is a much better alternative to using toothpaste on
acne.